McKenzie was the main reason
 

Our defense started playing much better. The defense strategy really changes when you have a shut down corner. You let him play their best receiver man to man -- let the safeties cheat the line of scrimmage to help the linebackers and let Grant and Howard go after the qb. Yep a shut down corner can allow your defense to play much more aggressively. If we can add Smoot to the mix, get a very good linebacker we may have one of the best defenses in the league next year. A great defensive line which can rush and a top notched defensive backfield

McKenzie was the main reason
 

I agree that McKenzie was a big part of it, no doubt. But my vote goes to Willie Whitehead. It\'s interesting that the Saints continued to play poorly for a few games after McKenzie got here, but the game that whitehead got inserted back into the rotation the d-line got loose and turned fierce. I can\'t explain it - honestly it was probably a combo... McKenzie and Fahkir finally both starting, Watson, Buckwoldt, and Allen were our best LB platoon, and Smith, Howard, Grant, Whitehead, Young, and Green in a rotation looked great.

McKenzie was the main reason
 

I believe the speed and passion of that young LB corps, combined with McKenzie and Brown, is what made our defense turn around. If you noticed, RB\'s weren\'t able to get the corner on us like they were earlier in the season. And Bockwoldt and Watson seemed like they were always around the ball. Personally, I think our future looks pretty bright with these young guys. All they need is some coaching up from the DC......................uh-oh.......

McKenzie was the main reason
 

I\'ll agree with WhoDat on Whitehead\'s return and the ensuing impact, but give some credit to Will Smith. He adjusted well to the speed of the NFL in the second half of the season and played extremely well for a rookie.

McKenzie was the main reason
 

That\'s awesome, Who Dat and B&B giving Whitehead some of the credit he deserves.
Whitehead is a big dude who has guns that would rival the Hulk\'s.
He\'s a long time Saint, maybe the longest. Wasn\'t he here from the Ditka era?
He punishes the QB when he gets to them.
And it\'s no coincidence that we finally began to stop the run when we cleared him to play again.

McKenzie was the main reason
 

Everyone is probably right. But what we all agree on (which is quite surprising) is that we have a nucleus of a decent defense. If we can get Smoot and a top notch middle linebacker there is reason to hope.

(of course I am just being a Saints fan -- optimistic until the end)

McKenzie was the main reason
 

To say that Willie Whitehead made more of a contribution than McKenzie is so laughable!! I\'m still laughing !!

4saintspirit is right. McKenzie allowed Venturi to play a different style of defense. The corners played man-to-man and allowed the front 7 to play much more aggressively.

It took a few games for Venturi and and McKenzie to get on the same page, but Venturi finally trusted McKenzie and the rest is history.

Whitehead is a good role player but to say Whitehead is the reason this defense played better is a J-O-K-E!!!

Willie Whitehead? Give me a friggin\' break !!

McKenzie was the main reason
 

...yeah... on guy who must still have sore hips for the many times Muhammad broke him surely was the main reason...

.. I agree with Whitehead, and especially agree with Kevin about Colby and Courtney... while not spectacular, they played very solid for a pair of rookies... Fakhir also came through...

.. McKenzie is a good player, no question, but that good that hes going to turn around a whole defense.. matter of fact, no one player can make such an impact on defense, especially playing CB...

...but when you combine putting back into the d-line rotation the solid play of Whitehead, the emergence of Fakhir, the pleasantly surprising solid play by the Saints young LB\'s, and yes the addition of a solid player in McKenzie, then you are talking about 5 positions in an 11-position unit... then you can see an impact...

McKenzie was the main reason
 

MM made MUCH more impact when we switched to playing man. Until then, we was nothing special.

Whitehead is always an under-rated player with this club.

But couldn\'t we argue that the defense started playing better once Sullivan wasn\'t in the lineup anymore? It makes about as much sense.

McKenzie was the main reason
 

Thanks swammi - your football insights shine through again. It\'s a wonder that your predictions are never right! LOL

Hey Billy, let me ask you a question. Is it starting to appear that this defense truly is and has been just a few impact players away from being good. All they need is a stud LB or two, a NT, and the corner they got this season... and most importantly, a coach. Seem right to you? Who suggested that a year and a half ago? ;)